Police investigate handling of a traffic stop involving Lions WR Jameson Williams and a gun

DETROIT -- Police successful Detroit are conducting an soul investigation aft Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams was not locked up pursuing a postulation extremity contempt nan find of a weapon nether his spot that he didn't person a licence to carry, authorities said.

Chief James White was “very unhappy astir nan totality of nan circumstances here,” Commander Michael McGinnis told WXYZ-TV.

The weapon was registered to Williams, but he does not person a concealed-carry permit, nan TV position reported.

Without a licence successful Michigan, a weapon proprietor typically must spot nan limb successful a closed lawsuit while successful a vehicle. A usurpation is simply a felony.

Williams was handcuffed and placed successful a patrol car connected Oct. 8. He was a rider successful a car driven by his brother, who had his ain weapon and a concealed-carry permit, WXYZ reported.

“I play for nan Lions, bro. I’m Jameson Williams,” Williams said, according to body-camera video obtained by nan TV station.

He said he lives successful Detroit and needs nan weapon for protection.

“I consciousness that location was probable origin to arrest, and he was nether apprehension by nan patrol officer,” McGinnis said. “And because of that, he should person been conveyed to nan Detroit Detention Center and processed.”

But Williams was released aft a sergeant arrived and talked by telephone pinch different elder officers. The weapon was besides returned.

The postulation extremity appeared to beryllium closed until WXYZ began asking questions. The Wayne County prosecutor's agency said it's now reviewing nan lawsuit for imaginable charges.

"We conscionable don’t cognize astatine this point," charismatic Kym Worthy said Wednesday astatine an unrelated news conference.

In a statement, nan Detroit Police Department said: “Let it beryllium clear: nary 1 successful nan metropolis of Detroit is supra nan law. Anyone who commits a crime will beryllium held accountable, sloppy of their position aliases status.”

Williams' attorney, Todd Flood, suggested that nary rule was surgery because Williams' relative had a concealed-carry licence that could screen some guns.

“We person cooperated pinch rule enforcement and will proceed to do so,” Flood said.

Williams, a first-round draught prime successful 2022, will miss this week's crippled against Green Bay arsenic portion of a two-game suspension for violating nan NFL's performance-enhancing constituent policy. He missed 4 games successful 2023 for violating nan league's gambling policy.

The squad said it was instantly informed astir nan postulation stop.

“It surely doesn’t look good,” coach Dan Campbell said erstwhile asked astir Williams' latest off-the-field problem.

But Campbell besides said he knows “what this kid is made of. He’s worthy hanging with.”

“He’s going to study from this," nan coach said, "and he’s going to turn and he’s going to beryllium amended for each this.”

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL